In a cotton-farming village in Sudan, teenage Nafisa is raised on heroic tales of British colonisers. But when a young businessman arrives from abroad with a new development plan and genetically engineered cotton, Nafisa becomes the centre of a power [... more]
The UAE National Orchestra kicks off its second season with the World Premiere of three new Emirati compositions in a concert programme that invites audiences into a musical journey through the UAE from its founding story and landscapes to the [... more]
The final performance of this award-winning contemporary dance from Aotearoa/New Zealand. Created by Oli Mathiesen with Lucy Lynch and Sharvon Mortimer and inspired by the energy and emotion of rave culture, it's a spectacle of stamina, sweat, and sheer willpower [... more]
Second of three performances for this award-winning contemporary dance from Aotearoa/New Zealand. Created by Oli Mathiesen with Lucy Lynch and Sharvon Mortimer and inspired by the energy and emotion of rave culture, it's a spectacle of stamina, sweat, and sheer [... more]
Award-winning contemporary dance from Aotearoa/New Zealand, one of the hits of Edinburgh 2025. Created by Oli Mathiesen with Lucy Lynch and Sharvon Mortimer and inspired by the energy and emotion of rave culture, it's a spectacle of stamina, sweat, and [... more]
A terrific start to the new season at The Arts Center – a high-octane double bill featuring two bands, both making their Gulf debuts, who really know how to deliver. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band (above) is the pioneering group [... more]
This second and last performance of the UAE National Orchestra's Season One Finale programme promises "a vibrant celebration of diversity through music" under the baton of Ahmed Farag . It includes exciting contributions from the Western canon alongside compositions from [... more]
A music-filled dialogue-free feature-length animation about a young astronaut and her guardian robot. Based on Kid Koala’s award-winning graphic novel, it deals poignantly with love, loss, memories and the bonds that connect us ... The film has an original score [... more]
Two examples of the next wave of UAE artistry in one evening of deeply personal, genre-blurring performances. Fatima, better known as FAFA, is an artist from Abu Dhabi with roots in both the UAE and Honduras; through sonic storytelling that blends [... more]
Beyond trade routes and history books lies a deeper current: shared rhythms, spiritual traditions, and cultural echoes that have travelled for centuries across deserts and oceans alike. Mandé Maqamāt invites audiences into a world where the Gulf meets the vast [... more]
Xu Zhong, one of China’s most distinguished conductors and pianists, takes the baton with the UAE National Orchestra for a concert of shared artistry and cultural exchange. The programme: Liu Tieshan and Mao Yuan Dance of The Yao People Brahms Concerto for [... more]
Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania has created a docudrama that reconstructs the horrifying true story of five-year-old Hind Rajab as she is bombarded by the Israeli army in Gaza in 2024. Rajab survived the original assault by the IDF, which [... more]
Flutist and vocalist Naïssam Jalal and oud master Hazem Shaheen have been friends and collaborators for nearly 20 years, composing and performing an intimate, meditative repertoire that uses just their two instruments and brings together the classical Arabic tradition of [... more]
The UAE National Orchestra continues its inaugural season with a concert inspired by the words of Ibn Arabi, the Arab scholar, Sufi mystic, poet, and Muslim philosopher from 12th and 13th century al-Andalus. This is the world premiere of a [... more]
The final performance of this interesting collaboration between the Mumbai-based music and street theatre group Yalgaar Sanskrutik Manch and the Nalanda Arts Studio from Bangalore. Kavan is described as an ‘Ambedkarite Opera' – Ambedkarism being the set of anti-caste ideas associated [... more]
A UAE National Orchestra concert featuring three classic Russian works that speak of emotion, imagination and human resilience. The programme looks nicely balanced: Shostakovich Overture on Russian and Kirghiz Folk Themes Stravinsky Pulcinella Suite Tchaikovsky Symphony No.5
The second performance (of three) for this interesting collaboration between the Mumbai-based music and street theatre group Yalgaar Sanskrutik Manch and the Nalanda Arts Studio from Bangalore. Kavan is described as an ‘Ambedkarite Opera' – Ambedkarism being the set of anti-caste [... more]
This interesting production is the UAE premiere of a groundbreaking collaboration by the Mumbai-based music and street theatre group Yalgaar Sanskrutik Manch, whose work centres on caste, inequality and social justice; and the Nalanda Arts Studio from Bangalore, an organisation [... more]
This adventure-ish drama, written as well as directed by Shahad Ameen, follows Saudi grandmother Sitti travelling from Taif to Mecca to perform Hajj with her two granddaughters, 12-year-old Janna and 18-year-old Sarah. But before they reach their destination, Sarah disappears, [... more]
This UAE National Orchestra concert looks like a really interesting (and challenging) option – music by the baroque master composer rescored for the instruments, modes and sounds of the Arab world: "a musical dialogue emerges, as harpsichord converses with qanun and [... more]
Huang Yi was last seen in Abu Dhabi in The Arts Center’s inaugural season, dancing with an industrial robot. This time he takes the ‘dance meets tech’ idea in new directions; in this collaboration with audiovisual pioneer Ryoichi Kurokawa, the [... more]
The acclaimed Japanese choreographer, in town for his performance piece Ink in a couple of days' time, explores how movement becomes conversation. In this workshop, participants learn to sense and respond to the subtle messages within their own bodies and [... more]
The Arts Center's mini-Womad for artists who mix modern/Western ideas with traditional/regional styles returns with three good-looking acts (each of whom will play for about an hour, which makes the door price a bit of a bargain). Yasmine Hamdan (above) [... more]
The Tasty Biscuits bring three years of soul and living-room setups to the stage, with a soulful, intimate showcase of original music and a guest roster that provides a who's-who of indie music in the UAE – Gaya, Abri, Tac, [... more]
Aakash Odedra returns to the Arts Center with his latest work, an hour of beautiful, engrossing virtuoso dance from a single dancer that unashamedly embodies emotions – mostly joy, some reflection, a tinge of sadness and pain – in a [... more]
An evening of new music from Boom.Diwan's forthcoming album, which is being recorded this week. The style is their characteristic merging of Kuwaiti maritime and desert traditions with the improvisational energy of jazz. Joining the ensemble are some distinguished collaborators, [... more]
The Arts Center's 11th annual celebration of the many meanings of 'home' – your country, your city, your family, the place where you happen to be now ... As always it's a celebration UAE's National Day, Eid al Etihad, with [... more]
A really interesting evening of contrasting but complementary music by performers who are all making their UAE debuts. Ballaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper Malian virtuoso Ballaké Sissoko has taken over the mantle of greatest living kora master, with an ability [... more]
Kenan Adnawi is a Syrian virtuoso oud player, composer, and improviser known for blending traditional Middle Eastern music with classical, jazz, and contemporary styles. His solo oud performances are a mesmerizing journey through Arabic maqamat, unfolding from introspective modal improvisation [... more]
The last in NYUAD Arts Center's fall film season, a series which explores history, identity, and belonging through Arab and international cinema, while offering audiences the chance to engage directly with filmmakers is inspired by the childhood of Saudi writer-director-producer [... more]
Founded by filmmaker and curator Nawaf Al Janahi in 2020, Cineolio‘s mission is focused on promoting short films and expanding their audience reach internationally. Its Cinenights screening series presents a diverse selection of short films on the big screen, celebrating [... more]
Studying away from home has given Fifi (Manar Shehab) a new sense of autonomy, but waking up in a hospital room after minor car accident in Jerusalem and surrounded by her family she will have to decide how much of her [... more]
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